Inputting data on a portable computing device

ABSTRACT

A method for displaying input from a portable computing device on a second computing device is described. Later inputs on the portable computing device are displayed in a scrolling fashion on the second computing device with later input being displayed below previous input without regard to the location of the input on the portable computing device.

BACKGROUND

This Background is intended to provide the basic context of this patentapplication and it is not intended to describe a specific problem to besolved.

Portable computing devices have proven to be useful to consumers. Fromcell phones to music players, the ability to carry a portable computingdevice has improved consumers' lives and made them more productive.Inputting data to computing devices has been a challenge. Consumers areaccustomed to have computer applications attempt to mimic paper andpencil by creating virtual pages and tracking a user's progress througha document by tracking the virtual page which the user is on.Translating the virtual page to a portable computing device with a muchsmaller screen has been a challenge. Users often get confused as a fullscreen on a portable computing device rarely translates into a virtualpage. A user may think they are on a third page on the portablecomputing device but in reality, the user may be on the first virtualpage as virtual pages are longer than the display on the portablecomputing device.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A method of displaying inputted data from a portable computing device ona second computing device is disclosed. On the second computing device,an input is received from the portable computing device at an inputlocation at a first time. The input is displayed at a display locationon the second computing device wherein the display location is below anyother input displayed previously communicated without regard to theinput location. The method is repeated such that later received inputsare displayed on the second computing device below previously receivedinputs without regard to the location at which the input was entered onthe portable computing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a portable computing device;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of computing elements in the portablecomputing device;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a method of inputting data on a portablecomputing device;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a user interface on a display in a portablecomputing device the implements the method.

SPECIFICATION

Although the following text sets forth a detailed description ofnumerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legalscope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forthat the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construedas exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment sincedescribing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if notimpossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, usingeither current technology or technology developed after the filing dateof this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.

It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined inthis patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ ishereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intentto limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication,beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not beinterpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in anysection of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To theextent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent isreferred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning,that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader,and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implicationor otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element isdefined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recitalof any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim elementbe interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixthparagraph.

FIG. 1 may be an illustration of a portable computing device 100.Portable computing devices 100 may be adapted to store and play avariety of file types such music files (for example, wav files, mp3files, etc.), video files (for example, wav files, mpeg files, mpeg4files, etc.), photo files (for example, jpeg, gif, etc.) or any othertype of electronic data file. Music files are not just traditional musicfiles but also may include podcasts, voice recordings, audio books, etc.The devices 100 may also have an FM radio, an AM radio, a satellitereceiver or a TV tuner to receive broadcasts from a variety of sources.Additional features are certainly available such as a WiFi ability,ability to transmit music, photos or video to another device, ability torecord voices, ability to take photos or videos, ability to maketelephone calls, ability to accept GPS signals and calculate locations,ability to play video games, keep calendars, keep contacts, take notes,etc. The device 100 may an input area 110. The device 100 may also havea display 120.

In some embodiments, the device 100 may be separable into two portabledevices. A first portable device 130 may include the input area 110 andan interface 140 for a second portable device 150. The second portabledevice 150 may contain a display 120 and an interface 140 to communicatewith the first portable device 130. The second portable device 150 maycontain a processor, the first portable device 130 may contain aprocessor or both may contain a processor.

FIG. 2 may be an illustration of the hardware used in the portablecomputing device 100. The device 100 may have a memory 210, a processingunit 220, an input area 230 such as the input area 110 (FIG. 1), anoutput device 240 such as a display 150 (FIG. 1) and a power source (notshown). The memory 210 may be volatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (suchas ROM, flash memory, etc.) or some combination of the two.

The device 100 may also include additional storage (removable and/ornon-removable) including, but not limited to, magnetic or optical disksor tape or any other memory that can be easily rewritten, may keep datafor long periods of time when power is removed and may allow quick andefficient access to data. Such additional storage is illustrated in FIG.2 by removable storage 250 and non-removable storage 260. Computerstorage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information such as computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules or other data. Memory 210, removable storage 250 andnon-removable storage 260 are all examples of computer storage media.Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM,EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology. Any such computerstorage media may be part of device 100.

The processing unit 220 may be any processing unit 220 capable ofexecuting computer code to decode data from a compressed format into auseable form fast enough such that music and video may be playedcontinuously without skips or jumps. It may also be useful if theprocessor 220 is efficient in using power to increase the life of thepower source. The device 100 may also contain communicationsconnection(s) 270 that allow the device 100 to communicate with otherdevices. Communications connection(s) 270 is an example of communicationmedia. Communication media typically embodies computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data in amodulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transportmechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term“modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of itscharacteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode informationin the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communicationmedia includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein includesboth storage media and communication media.

The power source may be a battery that may be rechargeable. The powersource may also be a standard battery, an input from a power converteror another portable power source. The display 120 may be a color LCDscreen or other display type that fits inside the device 100.

FIG. 3 may illustrate a method of displaying inputted data from aportable computing device such as the portable computing device 100described in FIGS. 1 and 2 on a second computing device. The portablecomputing device 100 may be virtually any device that has a processor220, a memory 210 and a display 120 as described in FIGS. 1 and 2 andmay be configured to execute computer executable instructions. Thedevice 100 may also be portable in that it may have a power sourceindependent of the traditional power grid, such as a battery and may beof a size and weight that it can easily be carried.

At block 300, an input 400 (FIG. 4) from the portable computing device100 at an input location may be received by the second computing device410. The input 400 may take on a virtually endless number of forms. Byway of example and not limitation, in some examples, the input 400 isnotes handwritten on an input area 120 on the portable computing device100. In other examples, the input 400 is a drawing and in yet otherinstances, a file of virtually any type such as a video file or audiofile may be the input 400. In addition, the portable computing device100 may have an input circuit to access memory devices that may containfiles that may be used as inputs or the portable computing device mayhave wireless communication capabilities such that files may beretrieved from a variety of sources.

In one embodiment, the input area 120 is a touch sensitive input area120 that is widely commercially available. The touch sensitive inputarea 120 may be capacitive devices that respond to touches from astylus, a pen, a finger or any other appropriate pointing device. Inanother embodiment, the input area 120 is a writing surface and is incommunication with a writing instrument such that when the writinginstrument passes over the writing surface, even on or through a stackof paper, the writing or drawing input 400 is obtained and stored. Ofcourse, other methods of digitizing the input are possible and arecontemplated.

The input area 120 may take the input 400 and digitize it or turn itinto a digital representation of the input 400. In one embodiment, itturns the input 400 into a series of x,y coordinates to indicate wherethe input 400 was received. In another embodiment, character recognitionsoftware may be used on the input 400 and recognized characters may becommunicated as ASCII code. Of course, other ways of digitizing theinput 400 are possible and are contemplated.

The input 400 itself may be received in a variety of forms. In oneembodiment, the input may be digitized and communicated from theportable computing device 100 as soon as received. In anotherembodiment, an input begin signal is received from the portablecomputing device 100 at the second computing device. The input beginsignal may be an input that continues for an input threshold amount oftime. In action, the input begin signal may be when a user puts the pento the input area 120 for the input threshold amount of time. Thethreshold amount of time may be a time longer than a touch, such as whena user begins to write or draw rather than a mere tap or brush on theinput area 120.

The input from the portable computing device 100 may be stored in amemory in the portable computing device 100. The input may then beperiodically communicated to the second computing device 410 or it maybe stored in a memory in the portable computing device 100 until aninput end signal from the portable computing device 100. The timing ofthe communication may be adjustable by a user. For example, a user maydesire there to be minimal delay in time from entering an input on theportable computing device 100 to the second computing device 410. Insuch cases, the input 400 the period for communicating the input 400 maybe reduced. In other cases, the user may desire for an entire thought orpage to be completed before communication begins and in these cases, theinput 400 may be communicated only when an input end signal isgenerated.

The input end signal may be an input 400 that stops for a stop thresholdamount of time. The stop threshold amount of time may be a period oftime when an input stops, such as when a user picks up the pen for athreshold amount of time from the input area 120. In another embodiment,the input end signal may be selected by a user. The time period for aninput end signal may also be adjusted by a user.

The form of the communication of the input 400 may also be in a varietyof forms. In one embodiment, the input 400 may be translated into RemoteNetwork Device Interface Specification (RNDIS) information and may becommunicated via User Datagram Protocol (UPD) packets where the UPDpackets include the RNDIS information. Of course, other formats arepossible and are contemplated.

At block 310, the input 400 may be displayed at a display location onthe second computing device 410 wherein the display location is belowany other input 400 displayed previously communicated without regard tothe input location. In one embodiment, the input 400 may be displayed onthe second computing device 410 when the input end signal is received. Aspace may be added after the displayed input 400 such that subsequentinputs 400 will be displayed below the previous input 400 and theinserted space.

In another embodiment, on the second computing device 410, the input 400may be displayed in a scrolling fashion where later inputs 400 aredisplayed after previous inputs 400 without regard to the location ofthe input 400 on the input area 120 in communication with the portablecomputing device 100. In one example, a first input 400 is entered at afirst input location 450 at a first time. On the second computingdevice, the input 400 at the first input location 450 is displayed atthe first display location 455. A second input 400 is entered at asecond input location 460 at a second time where the second time isafter the first time. Note that the second input location 460 is higheron the input pad than the first input location 450. On the secondcomputing device 410, the input 400 from the second input location 460is displayed at the second display location 465 which is under the firstdisplay location 455. A third input 400 is entered at a third inputlocation 470 at a third time when the third time is after the secondtime. Note that the third input location 470 is below both the firstinput location 450 and the second input location 460. On the secondcomputing device 410, the input 400 from the third location 470 isdisplayed at the third display location 475 where the third displaylocation 475.

The scrolling display of received input data may carry over into moresituations. By example and not limitation, the first input location 450may be on a first piece of paper in communication with the input area120 and the second input location 460 may be an entirely different pieceof paper written or drawn upon at a later time. For example, a spiralnotebook of paper may be in communication with the input area 120. Thefirst input location 450 may be on a first page in the spiral notebook.The page in the notebook may be turned and then the second inputlocation 460 may be on a second piece of paper in the same notebook. Thesecond piece of paper may be before or after the first piece of paper.The first input 400 received may be displayed on the second computingdevice 410 as being higher than the second input 400 received at a latertime without regard to where the second input location 460 was inrelation to the first input location 450.

At block 320, the method may repeat. In this way, inputs received laterin time will be displayed on the second computing device below thosereceived earlier without regard to the location or page on which theinput was originally entered. In this way, a user of the portablecomputing device will not have to memorize on which page a note wasentered or to flip pages (either manually or electronically) to avoidwriting over previously entered text. The newly entered input willsimply be entered at the end of the electronic scroll, greatlysimplifying using a digitizer to communicate input.

In one embodiment, the user may be able to maneuver the display on thesecond computing device 410 to specifically select a location for aninput 400 from the portable computing device 100 to be displayed. Forexample, a user may want to add a drawing to an input 400 of textpreviously entered. The user may move a curser on the second computingdevice and place the curser at the desired display location. In anotherembodiment, the user may use a drop down menu to indicate a new desireddisplay location for the input 400. An input 400 may then be receivedfrom the portable computing device 100 and be displayed at the selecteddisplay location on the second computing device 410. The user then mayhave the option for additional inputs 400 to be inserted at the desireddisplay location or be inserted at the end of the display on the secondcomputing device 410.

Once the input 400 is received at the second computing device, it may bestored. The stored file may take on a variety of formats. In oneembodiment, the file may be kept as a bitmap file and stored in a fileformat appropriate for illustrations such as jpeg or bmp files. Inanother embodiment, a character recognition process may review the input400 and the file may be stored as a combination of text and images. Ofcourse, a variety of file formats are contemplated.

The described method may have a variety of advantages. In previoussystems, when a user flipped a page in a notebook in communication withthe input area 120, the user also had to press a button to flip anelectronic page on the second computing device 410. If the user forgotto press a button to flip the electronic page, the additional input 400on the next page of the notebook would be entered directly over theinput 400 previously displayed. For example, input 400 entered on thefirst page a notebook near the top of the notebook page would bedisplayed at the top of the display on the second computing device. If auser turned the physical paper page in the notebook and started to writeon the second page near the top, this input would be written directlyover the previous input on the first physical page. When entering input400 on the portable computing device, it is no longer necessary to matchthe electronic page with the physical page as all inputs 400 aredisplayed below the previous inputs 400. The present method continuallyscrolls the inputs 400 such that later inputs do not write over previousinputs. The result is easier and more efficient input of data from aportable computing device to a second computing device.

1. A method of displaying inputted data from a portable computing deviceon a second computing device comprising: on the second computing device,receiving an input from the portable computing device at an inputlocation wherein the portable computing device comprises a input area incommunication with a digitizing application for digitizing the input tothe input area; displaying the input at a display location on the secondcomputing device wherein the display location is below any other inputdisplayed previously communicated without regard to the input location;and repeat the method.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein accepting theinput further comprises: receiving an input begin signal from theportable computing device; receiving the input from the portablecomputing device; storing the input in a memory; and receiving an inputend signal from the portable computing device.
 3. The method of claim 2further comprising: displaying the input received from the input beginsignal to the input end signal as formatted input wherein formattedinput is displayed in a format as inputted on the portable computingdevice and creating a space after the formatted input wherein additionalreceived input is displayed.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theportable computing device comprises a surface that digitizes input onpaper that is in communication with the portable computing device. 5.The method of claim 4, further comprising: communicating at a first timethe input from a first piece of paper in communication with the portablecomputing device; communicating at a second time an additional inputfrom an additional sheet of paper in communication with the portablecomputing device wherein the second time is after the first time;displaying the additional input after the first input on the sameelectronic page on the second computing device.
 6. The method of claim5, wherein the first piece of paper and addition piece of paper are heldin a bound notebook and the additional input is on a subsequent piece ofpaper than the first piece of paper in the bound notebook.
 7. The methodof claim 5, wherein the first piece of paper and additional piece ofpaper are held in a bound notebook and the additional input is on aprevious piece of paper than the first piece of paper in the boundnotebook.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the input begin signalcomprises an input that continues for an input threshold amount of time.9. The method of claim 2, wherein the input end signal comprises aninput that stops for a stop threshold amount of time.
 10. A computerstorage medium comprising computer executable code for displayinginputted data from a portable computing device on a second computingdevice that can be executes by a processor, the computer executable codecomprises computer executable code for: receiving an input from theportable computing device at an input location wherein the portablecomputing device comprises a input area in communication with adigitizing application for digitizing the input to the input area andwherein accepting the input further comprises: receiving an input beginsignal from the portable computing device; receiving the input from theportable computing device; storing the input in a memory; and receivingan input end signal from the portable computing device. displaying onthe second computing device the input received from the portablecomputing device input area starting from the input begin signal to theinput end signal as formatted input wherein formatted input is displayedin the format as inputted on the portable computing device and creatinga space after the formatted input wherein additional received input isdisplayed and repeating the method.
 11. The computer storage medium 10,wherein the portable computing device comprises a surface that digitizesinput on paper that is in communication with the portable computingdevice.
 12. The computer storage medium of claim 11, further comprisingcomputer executable code for: communicating at a first time the inputfrom a first piece of paper in communication with the portable computingdevice; communicating at a second time an additional input from anadditional sheet of paper in communication with the portable computingdevice wherein the second time is after the first time; displaying theadditional input after the first input on the same electronic page onthe second computing device.
 13. The computer storage medium of claim11, wherein the first piece of paper and addition piece of paper areheld in a bound notebook and the additional input is on a subsequentpiece of paper than the first piece of paper in the bound notebook. 14.The computer storage medium of claim 10, wherein the input begin signalcomprises an input that continues for an input threshold amount of timeand wherein the input end signal comprises an input that stops for astop threshold amount of time.
 15. A computer system comprising aprocessor, a memory and an input/output circuit, the system comprisingcomputer executable instructions to be executed by the processor, thecomputer executable code comprising code for: receiving an input fromthe portable computing device at an input location wherein the portablecomputing device comprises a input area in communication with adigitizing application for digitizing the input to the input area andwherein accepting the input further comprises: receiving an input beginsignal from the portable computing device; receiving the input from theportable computing device; storing the input in a memory; and receivingan input end signal from the portable computing device. displaying theinput at a display location on the second computing device wherein thedisplay location is below any other input displayed previouslycommunicated without regard to the input location; and repeating themethod
 16. The computer system of claim 15, further comprisingdisplaying on the second computing device the input received from theportable computing device input area starting from the input beginsignal to the input end signal as formatted input wherein formattedinput is displayed in the format as inputted on the portable computingdevice and creating a space after the formatted input wherein additionalreceived input is displayed and repeating the method.
 17. The computersystem of claim 15, wherein the portable computing device comprises asurface that digitizes input on paper that is in communication with theportable computing device.
 18. The computer system of claim 17, furthercomprising computer executable code for: communicating at a first timethe input from a first piece of paper in communication with the portablecomputing device; communicating at a second time an additional inputfrom an additional sheet of paper in communication with the portablecomputing device wherein the second time is after the first time; anddisplaying the additional input after the first input on the sameelectronic page on the second computing device.
 19. The computer systemof claim 18, wherein the first piece of paper and addition piece ofpaper are held in a bound notebook and the additional input is on asubsequent piece of paper than the first piece of paper in the boundnotebook.
 20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the input beginsignal comprises an input that continues for an input threshold amountof time and wherein the input end signal comprises an input that stopsfor a stop threshold amount of time.